Electroolfactogram (EOG) recordings from the rat septal olfactory organ (SO) provide the first demonstration of its broad-range chemosensitivity, and clearly establish this structure as a functioning component of the mammalian intranasal chemosensory system. SO sensitivity to lower concentrations of at least one common test odorant (pentyl acetate) exceeds that at sites located on the septal portion of the main olfactory neuroepithelium. Signals from the SO, as first proposed, thus could have an alerting function and provide information relevant to odor stimulus assessment.